Electrolyte level control device for storage batteries



Sept. 24, 1946. I J. SANDUSKY ELECTROLYTE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE-FOR STORAGE. BATTERIES Filed May 3, 1945 Patented Sept. 24, 1946 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

- ELECTROLYTE LEVEL CONTROL DEVICE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Julius Sandusky,. Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Application May 3,1945,'SeriaINo.591,816;

10 Claims. (01. 136-177) This invention relates to electrolyte level con- I trol device for storage batteries, and particularly the type of device in which the filling up of the filling passage indicates when the battery is filled to the proper level.

In the prior United States Patent No. 2,306,569 issued September 29th, 1942, I show a device of the kind referred to. The object of the present invention is to simplify the construction disclosed in the aforesaid patent, improve its operation, and reduce. its cost. This is done, according to the present invention by eliminating the vent tube, and by substituting a simple disc in the filling tube for the cup shown in the aforesaid prior patent. By making the disc tiltable so that it can be readily removed and to permit the insertion of the end of the hydrometer, the interior of the cell is accessible for filling and testing the electrolyte and the device can be manufactured by mass production methods at a cost of very little more than batteries not provided with a level control device.

Other features of the invention and the advantages thereof will appear from the following description and drawing in which:

Figure 1 is a fragmentary plan view of the battery, with the cap removed, showing the filling opening made in accordance with this invention;

Figure 2 a fragmentary vertical section through the filling opening on the line 2-2 in Figure 1 showing the cap above the opening.

Figure 3 a fragmentary vertical section on the line 33 in Figure 1, with the cap in position in the filling opening;

Figure 4 a fragmentary perspective view of the filling opening;

Figure 5 a perspective view of the removable disc; and

Figure 6 a perspective view of a modified form of removable disc.

In the drawing like numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in the different figures.

The construction of the battery is well known, and therefore only such parts thereof as are relative to the present invention are indicated. A filling opening-l is formed in the top of the battery casing 2. An upwardly extending boss 3 surrounds the filling opening, the said boss being threaded internally to receive a cap 4 which may be of any suitable construction, and which is shown in Figure 2 above the filler opening and in Figure 3 mounted in the filler opening and screwed into the boss 3.

Extending down from the top 2 of the cell into the interior of the cell a dis-tance of about 7 below the underside of the top 2 of the cell is a filling tube 5- which forms a closed air space below the top of the cell.

Formed or cut in the wall of the tube. 5 are three slots 6, 6, 6 which form vent. apertures extending through the tube and communicating with the otherwise enclosed air space beneath the top of the cell. These slotsare about in width and about in length, extending below the underside of the top 201: the cell approximately /4"..

At opposite sides of the inner wall of the tube 5 are provided grooves 5 extending from the top of the tube 5 to a point about 4" below the top and having a rounded lower end adapted to receive pins 6 6 extending'from the periphery of a disc 6 at opposite points of said periphery.

The lower ends of the grooves 5. act as journals for the pins 6, whereby the disc 6 is rotatably mounted within the tube 5 and may be tilted to facilitate removal therefrom or the insertion of the end of the filling tube of a hydrometer.

The disc 6 is made of heavy non-corrosive material, such as lead, and the pins 6 extend therefrom above the center of gravity so that when it is pivotally mounted in the tube it will normally remain horizontal. The upper surface of the disc is flat and. the lower surface is provided with a downwardly extending bulge 6 to provide weight for mantaining the disc. in its normal horizontal position. The diameter of the disc is from %4" to 1 5" smaller than the diameter of the interior of the tube 5, so that there is a space between the periphery and the disc inside of the wall of the tube averaging about 82" wide. The upper face of the disc is about. /8" above the lower end of the tube 5.

The space between the periphery of the disc and the inner side of the walls of the tube 5, and the openings formed by the slot [6, are 01 such size that when the battery is being filled, when the electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube a seal will be formed over said space and slot, preventing the fluid being poured into the battery from running into the cell and causing it to rise in the filling passage to the filling opening, indicating that the battery has been filled to the proper level.

In actual practice, it is observed that the, seal over the slot does not occur immediately upon the electrolyte reaching the bottom of the tube. When water is poured into the filling openin it goes. through the spa e b tw en t e is and the tube and a certain amount may run through the lower ends of the slot. Air is vented through the upper ends of the slot. When the electrolyte rises to the bottom of the tube a bubble is formed thereover, and air is trapped between the bottom of the tube and the disc forming an air cushion which causes a seal to form over the space between the disc and the side of the tube preventing the further flow of water therethrough. When this occurs a certain amount of water continues to flow through the slots until the electrolyte has risen about A," above the bottom of the tube around the outside of the tube, when the pressure of air in the top of the cell causes a seal to form over the slots preventing the air from ventin and causing thewater to rise in the filling tube indicating that the electrolyte has reached the desired level. I

In Figure 6 is shown a modification in which the diameter of the removable disc is slightly larger than in the previous form so that it substantially fully encloses the interior of the tube 5. Extending diagonally through the disc from the upper face thereof to a point in the side of the depending bulge portion 6 are two holes l9, lfl which provide a filling passage in lieu of the space between the sides of the disc and the wall of the tube.

It is thought that the construction and use of the invention will be apparent from the above description of the various parts and their purpose. It is to be understood that the form of my invention herewith shown and described, is to be taken as a preferred example of the same, and that various changes in the shape, size and arrangement of parts may be resorted to, without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the subjoined claims.

What I claim as my invention is:

1. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc supported in the tube spaced from the bottom thereof and below the top of the .cell, said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass to below the disc, and a vent aperture extending through the tube above the disc communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage and vent aperture being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

2. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a, disc supported in the tube spaced from the bottom thereof and below the top of the cell, said disc being spaced from the walls of the tube to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass to below the disc, and a vent aperture extending through the tube above the disc communicating with the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage and vent aperture being of suchsize that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a sealthercqvfir when 4v electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

3. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc supported in the tube spaced from the bottom thereof and below the top of the cell, said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass to :below the disc, and slots extending through the tube from a point below the top of the cell to a point adjacent the disc, forming a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the .cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage and vent aperture being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

4;. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extendin into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc supported in the tube spaced from the bottom thereof and below the top of the cell, said disc being spaced about from the walls of the tube to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass to below the disc, and slots about long and wide extending through the tube from a point below the top of the cell to a point adjacent the disc, forming a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage and vent aperture being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

5. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into th cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc supported in the tube about above the bottom thereof and below the top of the cell, said disc being spaced about from the walls of the tube to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass to below the disc, and slots about long and wide extending through the tube from a point below the top of the cell to a point adjacent the disc, forming a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage and vent aperture being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

6. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into th cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc supported in the tube spaced from the bottom thereof and below the top of the cell, said disc having a limited passage extending therethrough for fluid from above the disc to pass below the disc, and a vent aperture extending through the tube above the disc communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when electrolyte in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

7. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc in the tube below the top of the cell, said disc having pins extending from the periphery thereof at opposite points in its periphery and said tube having journals formed in its inner wall on which the pins are mounted to pivotally support the disc thereon, whereby the disc may be tilted to facilitate removal of the disc or insertion of the end of the tube of a hydrometer, and said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage Within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass below the disc, and a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when fluid in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

8. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc in the tube below the top of the cell, said disc having pins extending from the periphery thereof at opposite points in its periphery and said tube having grooves in opposite sides of the inner wall thereof extending from the top thereof to a point adjacent the bottom, in the lower ends of which the pins are mounted to pivotally support the disc thereon, whereby the disc may be tilted to facilitate removal of the disc or insertion of the end of the tube of a hydrometer, and said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass below the disc, and a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal 6 thereover when fluid in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

9. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc in the tube below the top of the cell, said-disc having pins extending from the periphery thereof at opposite points in its periphery above its centre of gravity, and said tube having journals formed in its inner wall on which the pins are mounted to pivotally support the disc thereon, whereby the disc is normally horizontal but may be tilted to facilitate removal of the disc or insertion of the end of the tube, of a hydrometer, and said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass below the disc, and a vent aperture commimicating between the otherwise closed air spac beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when fluid in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

10. In an electrolyte level control device for batteries, a cell having a filling opening in the top thereof, a filling tube extending into the cell from the filling opening and forming a closed air space beneath the top of the cell, a disc of heavy noncorrodible material in the tube below the top of the cell, said disc having pins extending from the periphery thereof at opposite points in its periphery and said tube having journals formed in its inner wall on which the pins are mounted to pivotally support the disc thereon, whereby the disc may be tilted to facilitate removal of the disc or insertion of the end of the tube of a hydrometer, and said disc being constructed so as to provide a limited passage within the tube for fluid from above the disc to pass below the disc, and a vent aperture communicating between the otherwise closed air space beneath the top of the cell and the interior of the tube above the disc, said limited fluid passage being of such size that liquid poured into the interior of the tube through the filling opening will form a seal thereover when fluid in the cell closes the bottom of the tube.

JULIUS SANDUSKY. 

